Re: 60 or 70 lbs
I shot a 65lb at 28" recurve (probably 71lbs at my drawlength) for a lot of years before I bought a compound. When I did buy a compound it was to have a bow I could practice with prior to borrowing an 85 lb bowtech on a cape buffalo hunt. I also wanted the new compound to be useful afterwards for hunting elk (and not be over-bowed), so I went with a 70lb draw weight bow and maxed it at 73lbs.
It served its purpose and had me ready for the cape buffalo hunt, but unfortunately, the cape buffalo didn't cooperate and I ended up taking them with a rifle.
Anyway, that's the main reason I settled on a 70 lb bow initially. I have used it a bit for elk and deer hunting over the last few years, and love it. Its no trouble to draw and shoot....BUT...
Last year I started late season bowhunting from a treestand. After sitting in a stand at -15 to -20 for a few hours, wearing lots of layers of clothing, etc, 73lbs gets MUCH harder to draw!!! And not only that, draw length can become an issue too!
So, I have decided I need an early season elk bow (the one I have is fine), and a new late season deer bow. My late season deer bow will be 60lbs and have 1" shorter draw length.
Its something to consider when buying your bow -- if you see yourself using it in cold weather from a stand/blind, you may just want to start at 60lbs and make sure your drawlength will also suit you when wearing layers of winter clothing. That bow will still work fine for early season hunting.
Last edited by Kody94; 03-05-2011 at 07:05 PM.
"If you want to hunt beasts you don't see every day,
You have to go places quite out-of-the-way.
You have to go places no others can get to,
You have to get cold and you have to get wet, too."
- Dr. Seuss